Alert up as Kanlaon ashfall, rains trigger muddy streamflow
BACOLOD CITY—Muddy stream flow in the waterways of La Castellana town in Negros Occidental, caused by the ashfall from Mt. Kanlaon’s moderately explosive eruption on May 13, is posing serious health and environmental risks to residents.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has advised residents to boil all drinking water and avoid consuming fish from contaminated rivers.
Donato Sermeno III, director of the OCD Negros Island Region, said the muddy stream flow at the Bungahin River in Barangay Robles of La Castellana was caused by the subsequent heavy rain that washed down the debris spewed by Mt. Kanlaon during its eruption on May 13.
He said they received reports that residents caught a lot of fish from the muddy stream flow in Bungahin River. However, he said, the catch should not be eaten.
“Those living near the riverbanks should remain vigilant for sudden changes in water levels or flow,” Sermeno also warned.
La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan said muddy stream flows were also seen in the waterways in Barangays Biak na Bato and Cabagna-an in her town due to its proximity to the volcano.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) La Carlota Observatory (located in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental), said the muddy stream flow is being caused by the pyroclastic density current or PDC emitted by Kanlaon Volcano during its eruption last Tuesday.
The volcano straddles the cities of Bago, La Carlota and San Carlos and the towns of La Castellana and Murcia in Negros Occidental; and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Put on masks
Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Negros Occidental Provincial Health Officer, stressed the need for residents to wear masks when the volcano emits ash to avoid respiratory diseases.
She said the recent eruption Mt. Kanlaon affected the upper barangays of La Carlota City and Bago City the most.
“(We) are on the lookout for respiratory diseases and skin irritation,” Pinongan said.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said there was still a chance for sudden phreatic (steam-driven) eruptions, especially since Kanlaon’s volcanic earthquakes were on the rise.
Residents were urged to steer clear of the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and to stay alert.
From a high of about 10,000 individuals, there were now at least 5,000 residents from the volcano’s 6-km PDZ still staying in various evacuation centers in the two Negros provinces since Dec. 9 last year, following Kanlaon’s major eruption.
The volcano has had several steam-driven eruptions since then, which prompted concerned local governments to keep residents in the expanded PDZ to remain in shelters.
Stay vigilant
Bacolcol called on the concerned local governments to be ready for possible evacuations if Alert Level 4 is declared over Kanlaon Volcano.
Alert level 4 means a magmatic process can progress into a highly hazardous eruption.
Alert level 3 currently prevails over Mount Kanlaon, which means that the volcano is in a state of magmatic unrest with currently increased chances of short-lived moderately explosive eruptions that could generate life-threatening volcanic hazards.
